Rumors on H1B Visa stamping – Routing to Home country if you are getting first time stamping
Folks,
I have been hearing some rumors about H1B Visa stamping issues for first timers in Canada or Mexico. I heard many people saying that Consulates in Canada and Mexico are routing first time H1B applicants to India unless it is an extension or renewal.
To check the authenticity of this rumor I have double checked in Vancouver, Canada consulate website and didn’t find anything like that. But of course as always they say that they have right to route you to your home country consulate if they cant validate your home country documents. This rule is always there though but lot of my friends has got their stamping including me.
Please post your comments and thoughts if you have heard anything on this subject.
Below is the list of documents you need to carry if you are planning to get your H1B Visa stamped in Canada. I got this below list from their website. For more recent new please go to http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/usa_visa.asp#ability
H1B: Distinguished Merit (Other than Nurse)
· DS-156 (application form).
· Valid Passport (at least 6 months).
· Proof of legal status in Canada: original or certified copy.
· Older passports containing previous visas.
· Documents substantiating previous legal status in U.S.
· Non-refundable U.S. Visa Application Fee
· Original or copy of Notice of Approval Form I-797A or I-797B.
· Current employment letter indicating the nature of work, duration and salary.
· Recent paystub/payslip.
· Copy of I-129 petition completed by employer and filed with D.H.S.
· Copy of approved LCA if applicable.
· If previously under J-1 in U.S. applicant needs waiver of 2 year foreign residence rule.
· Evidence of qualifications must original or certified copy. Consular officers in Canada may refuse to issue a visa to H-1B applicants if their education and/or work experience is solely or predominantly from a country other than the U.S. or Canada.
BEST OF LUCK … J
F1toH1 Blog 
Forget about Stamping, the problem is getting approvals.
H1Bvisas
May 2, 2009
First stamping should be done from home country. Not sure if that is the rule. However, every iimigration attorney has told me that. I would not recommend taking chance for stamping the first stamp from Canada or Mexico.
Raz
May 13, 2009
i got h1b approval(h4-f1-h1)and i got canadian pr
PR approval. So i want to go canada for landing
but in my paasport has h4 stamping so i have tstamp
stamp h1b any how so,anyone please suggest me
what chances to get h1b stamp in canada.
thanks in advance
sach
June 29, 2009
I suggest you to legally approach some good immigration attorney who can give you the latest information.
As of March, we have some news about this H1B stamping in Canada which seemed to work for lot of people at that time.
But you can get as much info as possible in this link which has every detail about rumors & stampings in Canada.
https://f1toh1.wordpress.com/tag/h1b-stamping-in-canada/
ALL THE BEST
f1toh1
July 1, 2009
yes they sent my friend to home country a weell from ottawa
rick
July 11, 2009
i am planning to go for my stamping this month or next month.. can anyone tell me how early we can go for stamping and how early one can enter USA on h1 visa. which option is better and less expensive canada or mexico, am in NY at present.
thanks
kasa
August 10, 2009
It is almost…well so far, it IS IMPOSSIBLE to get an appointment at the US Embassies in Canada. What gives? Is there a trick?
norms
October 26, 2009
Try during mid nights and early mornings, you might see some openings.
Make sure to refresh the page every minute during the peak hours in the morning and as well as midnight as they will be adding more dates and update the canclled dates.
I even have to spend 15 days, refreshing every minutes during the peak hours. It worked for me!!!
f1toh1
October 27, 2009
Thanks for giving me some hope! Though I waited too long to start this process and my window for getting this done (I plan to travel) is fast closing–I must get it down within 2 days. Here goes…
norms
October 27, 2009
It took about 2 weeks of consistant trying for me to get the appointment buy I finally did. Hopefully it works out!
JJ
November 30, 2009
I gave up on Canada (and I won’t try for Mexico). It appears I’ll need to go home (which will be pretty expensive).
norms
November 30, 2009
Thanks for the update.
NVARS Appointment
February 23, 2010
I was able to go to Barbados (instead of my home country of Guyana and got stamped there. It seems Barbados normally accepts Guyanese, but the safest bet is to go to your home country (or Canada/Mexico…if you can get an appointment).
nomrs
February 23, 2010
How did the H1B stamping in Barbados go? What docs did you need? What questions did they ask you? Considering doing this soon and would love to get info from those who have done it already.
Islandgirl
March 29, 2011
I got my 1st h1b stamped successfully in ottawa. I had a change of status from f1 to h1. No problems at all, interview was for about 2 mins. I-797, employer letter, certificate were verified, and a couple of questions about current job. Don’t believe in rumors, just have all your papers. Be genuine.
Beemboi
March 10, 2010
I didn’t have any problems with that. Pakistani national, F1 to H1b (this was my first H1b stamp) in Ottawa. They didn’t even ask why I was in Ottawa. I did, however, have US degrees, and I’ve heard it’s more of a problem for those with degrees from their home country.
AF
June 18, 2010
Beemboi, AF & others- can you please share the year that you guys got your first stamping done? I am assuming it was 2009 and have been hearing that it has been more difficult this year. Thanks
VA
August 25, 2010
Helpful information. Fortunate me I discovered your web site unintentionally, and I am shocked why this coincidence didn’t took place in advance! I bookmarked it.
australian visa requirements
December 8, 2011
Hello…anyone who got f1 to h1 visa stamping in canada…..Can you tell me if you were “out of status” (did your f1 expire) when you applied for visa stamping?
My situation is my F1 visa would expire by AUG 31th, and I would be out of status in September, I currently have H1B approved and would be eligible to start on October 1st. I am planning to go to canada in September for visa stamping.Would my being (f1 expires aug 31th) out of status in september create a problem in H1b visa stamping?
lenny
May 30, 2012
Hello sach,
Did you get H1 stamping?Canada or India?Did you face any questions on visa transfer?
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